scene

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

scene

the place where events in real life, drama, or fiction occur: scene of the crime; any view or picture; an embarrassing public display of emotion: Please don’t make a scene!

Not to be confused with:

seen – past participle of see: I have seen the light.

scene

(sēn)

1. Something seen by a viewer; a view or prospect.

2. The place where an action or event occurs: the scene of the crime.

3. The place in which the action of a play, movie, novel, or other narrative occurs; a setting.

a. A subdivision of an act in a dramatic presentation in which the setting is fixed and the time continuous.

b. A shot or series of shots in a movie constituting a unit of continuous related action.

5. A section of a narrative in which the action is depicted through detail and dialogue as if it is occurring in real time: The editor felt the story had too much summary and suggested that the author add more scenes.

a. The scenery and properties for a dramatic presentation.

b. A theater stage.

7. A real or fictitious episode, especially when described.

8. A public display of passion or temper: tried not to make a scene.

a. A sphere of activity: observers of the political scene.

b. Slang A situation or set of circumstances: a bad scene; a wild scene.

Idiom:

behind the scenes

1. Backstage.

2. Out of public view; in secret.

[French scène, stage, from Middle French, from Latin scaena, ultimately (possibly via Etruscan), from Greek skēnē, tent, building or construction serving as the background for a stage, perhaps originally meaning "shelter providing shade" and akin to Greek skiā, shade.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

scene

(siːn)

1. the place where an action or event, real or imaginary, occurs

2. the setting for the action of a play, novel, etc

3. an incident or situation, real or imaginary, esp as described or represented

4. (Theatre)

a. a subdivision of an act of a play, in which the time is continuous and the setting fixed

b. a single event, esp a significant one, in a play

5. (Film) films a shot or series of shots that constitutes a unit of the action

6. (Theatre) the backcloths, stage setting, etc, for a play or film set; scenery

7. the prospect of a place, landscape, etc

8. a display of emotion, esp an embarrassing one to the onlookers

9. informal the environment for a specific activity: the fashion scene.

10. informal interest or chosen occupation: classical music is not my scene.

11. rare the stage, esp of a theatre in ancient Greece or Rome

12. behind the scenes out of public view; privately

[C16: from Latin scēna theatrical stage, from Greek skēnē tent, stage]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

scene

(sin)

n.

1. the place where some action or event occurs or has occurred: the scene of the accident.

2. any view or picture.

3. an incident or situation in real life.

4. an embarrassing display of anger, bad manners, or the like, esp. in public.

5. a division of a play, film, novel, etc., representing a single episode.

6. the place where the action of a story, drama, or dramatic episode is supposed to occur.

7. scenery (def. 2).

8. the stage, esp. of an ancient Greek or Roman theater.

9. an area or sphere of activity, current interest, etc.: the fashion scene.

Idioms:

behind the scenes,

a. in secret or in private.

b. where the full operations or activities of something take place.

[1530–40; < Latin scēna background (of the stage) < Greek skēnḗ booth]

syn: See view.

scene

– sight – view – landscape – scenery

1. 'scene'

The noun scene has several meanings.

It can refer to a part of a play, film, or novel.

Do you know the balcony scene from 'Romeo and Juliet'?

It was like a scene from a Victorian novel.

The scene of an accident or crime is the place where it happened.

They were only a few miles from the scene of the crime.

You can describe something as a scene of a particular kind when you are giving your impression of the things that are happening there at a particular time.

I entered the room to be greeted by a scene of domestic tranquillity.

The sun rose over a scene of terrible destruction.

2. 'sight'

You use sight to give your impression of the appearance of a particular thing or person.

A volcano erupting is a spectacular sight.

With his ragged clothes and thin face, he was a pitiful sight.

You can use the plural form sights to refer to the interesting things that there are to see in a particular place.

Did you have time to see the sights while you were in Moscow?

A guide offered to show us the sights.

There are some other nouns that are commonly used to refer to things that people see:

3. 'view'

View is used to refer to what you can see from a window or high place.

Her bedroom window looked out on to a superb view of London.

From the top of the hill there is a fine view.

4. 'landscape'

The landscape is what you can see around you when you are travelling through an area of land. You can use this word whether the area is attractive or not.

The landscape around here is very flat.

The train passed through the industrial landscape of eastern Massachusetts.

5. 'scenery'

Scenery refers to what you see around you in an attractive part of the countryside.

We stopped on the way to admire the scenery.

I think Scotland has the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Be Careful!
Scenery is an uncountable noun. Don't talk about 'sceneries' or 'a scenery'.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

scene

A series of shots that make up one single unit of the film’s action; also, the stage-setting and backcloths for a film.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	scene - the place where some action occurs; "the police returned to the scene of the crime" area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country" light - an illuminated area; "he stepped into the light" darkness, shadow, dark - an unilluminated area; "he moved off into the darkness" field of honor - the scene of a duel stage - any scene regarded as a setting for exhibiting or doing something; "All the world's a stage"--Shakespeare; "it set the stage for peaceful negotiations" locale, locus, venue - the scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)
	2.	scene - an incident (real or imaginary); "their parting was a sad scene" incident - a single distinct event
	3.	scene - the visual percept of a region; "the most desirable feature of the park are the beautiful views" panorama, vista, view, aspect, prospect visual percept, visual image - a percept that arises from the eyes; an image in the visual system background, ground - the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground; "he posed her against a background of rolling hills" coast - the area within view; "the coast is clear" exposure - aspect resulting from the direction a building or window faces; "the studio had a northern exposure" foreground - the part of a scene that is near the viewer glimpse - a brief or incomplete view; "from the window he could catch a glimpse of the lake" middle distance - the part of a scene between the foreground and the background side view - a view from the side of something tableau - any dramatic scene
	4.	scene - a consecutive series of pictures that constitutes a unit of action in a film shot photo, photograph, pic, exposure, picture - a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material motion picture, motion-picture show, movie, moving picture, moving-picture show, pic, film, picture show, flick, picture - a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement; "they went to a movie every Saturday night"; "the film was shot on location" outtake - a scene that is filmed but is not used in the final editing of the film
	5.	scene - a situation treated as an observable object; "the political picture is favorable"; "the religious scene in England has changed in the last century" picture situation, state of affairs - the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time; "the present international situation is dangerous"; "wondered how such a state of affairs had come about"; "eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation"- Franklin D.Roosevelt
	6.	scene - a subdivision of an act of a play; "the first act has three scenes" dramatic composition, dramatic work - a play for performance on the stage or television or in a movie etc. act - a subdivision of a play or opera or ballet
	7.	scene - a display of bad temper; "he had a fit"; "she threw a tantrum"; "he made a scene" conniption, fit, tantrum bad temper, ill temper - a persisting angry mood
	8.	scene - graphic art consisting of the graphic or photographic representation of a visual percept; "he painted scenes from everyday life"; "figure 2 shows photographic and schematic views of the equipment" view graphic art - the arts of drawing or painting or printmaking depicted object, subject, content - something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation; "a moving picture of a train is more dramatic than a still picture of the same subject"
	9.	scene - the context and environment in which something is set; "the perfect setting for a ghost story" setting environs, surround, surroundings, environment - the area in which something exists or lives; "the country--the flat agricultural surround" scenario - a setting for a work of art or literature; "the scenario is France during the Reign of Terror"
	10.	scene - the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale; "they worked all night painting the scenery" scenery backcloth, backdrop, background - scenery hung at back of stage flat - scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting masking piece, masking - scenery used to block the audience's view of parts of the stage that should not be seen set piece - a piece of scenery intended to stand alone as part of the stage setting stage set, set - representation consisting of the scenery and other properties used to identify the location of a dramatic production; "the sets were meticulously authentic"

scene

noun

1. act, part, division, episode the opening scene

2. setting, set, background, location, backdrop, mise en scène (French) The lights go up, revealing a scene of chaos.

3. incident, happening, event, episode There were emotional scenes as the refugees enjoyed their first breath of freedom.

4. site, place, setting, area, position, stage, situation, spot, whereabouts, locality Riot vans were on the scene in minutes.

5. (Informal) world, business, environment, preserve, arena, realm, domain, milieu, thing, field of interest the local music scene Sport just isn't my scene.

6. view, prospect, panorama, vista, landscape, tableau, outlook James Lynch's country scenes

7. fuss, to-do, row, performance, upset, drama, exhibition, carry-on (informal, chiefly Brit.), confrontation, outburst, tantrum, commotion, hue and cry, display of emotion I'm sorry I made such a scene.

8. section, part, sequence, segment, clip She was told to cut some scenes from her new series.

behind the scenes secretly, in private, in secret, behind closed doors, surreptitiously, on the quiet But behind the scenes he will be working quietly.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

scene

noun

1. That which is or can be seen:

lookout, outlook, panorama, perspective, prospect, sight, view, vista.

2. The place where an action or event occurs:

locale, setting, site, stage.

3. The properties, backdrops, and other objects arranged for a dramatic presentation:

mise en scène, scenery, set, setting.

4. A sphere of activity, experience, study, or interest:

area, arena, bailiwick, circle, department, domain, field, orbit, province, realm, subject, terrain, territory, world.

Slang: bag.

5. Slang. Existing surroundings that affect an activity:

circumstance (often used in plural), condition (used in plural), environment.

Translations

حادِثمَجال، نِطاق، مَشْهَدمَشْهَدمَشْهَد من المَسْرَحِيَّهمَشْهَد، مَنْظَر

dějištědekoraceprostředíscénascenérie

sceneskuepladsverdenbilledelandskab

Szene Schauplatz Anblick Bild Bildfläche

σκηνή

escena escenario panorama incidente paisaje

tapahtumapaikka

scène tableau décor incident

scena

jelenetszínhelyszínpadi díszlet

atriîiatriîi, atburîursjónsjónarspil, lætisögusviî; vettvangur

scena scenario scenata scenico strada panoramica

場面

현장

dekoracijadekoracijosnutikimasreginysscena

ainaainavaaprindasdarbības vietadekorācija

scène

åsted kulisser scene skueplass

scena

cena

сцена картина

dejiskoscénavýjav

prizorprizoriščescena

scen

สถานที่เกิดเหตุ

sahnesahne dekoruyer alan manzara

quang cảnh

现场界道具一场一段情节

scene

[siːn]

A. N

1. (Theat, Cine, TV, Literat) → escena f
Act I, Scene 1 → acto I, escena 1
a bedroom scene → una escena de dormitorio
behind the scenes (lit, fig) → entre bastidores
the big scene in the film → la principal escena de la película
indoor scene → interior m
love scenes → escenas fpl de amor
outdoor scene → exterior m
the scene is set in a castle → la escena tiene lugar en un castillo
to set the scene for a love affair → crear el ambiente para una aventura sentimental
now let our reporter set the scene for you → ahora permitan que nuestro reportero les describa la escena

2. (= sight) → escena f
it was an amazing scene → era una escena asombrosa
it was a scene of utter destruction → la escena or el panorama era de destrucción total
there were scenes of violence → hubo escenas de violencia

3. (= view) → vista f, panorama m; (= landscape) → paisaje m
the scene from the top is marvellous → desde la cumbre la vista es maravillosa or el panorama es maravilloso
the scene spread out before you → el panorama que tienes delante
it is a lonely scene → es un paisaje solitario

4. (= place) → escenario m, lugar m
the scenes of one's early life → los lugares frecuentados por uno en su juventud
to appear or come on the scene → llegar
when I came on the scene → cuando llegué
he appeared unexpectedly on the scene → se presentó inesperadamente
I need a change of scene → necesito un cambio de aires
the scene of the crime → el lugar or escenario del crimen
to disappear from the scene → desaparecer (de escena)
the scene of the disaster → el lugar de la catástrofe
the police were soon on the scene → la policía no tardó en acudir al lugar de los hechos (Mil)
the scene of operations → el teatro de operaciones

5. (= sphere of activity)
to be part of the Madrid scene → formar parte de la movida madrileña
the music scene → la escena musical
it's not my scene → no me interesa or llama la atención
the political scene in Spain → el panorama político español
to disappear from the political scene → desaparecer de la escena política
the pop scene → el mundo del pop

6. (= painting, drawing) → escena f
country scenes → escenas fpl campestres

7. (= fuss) → escena f, escándalo m, bronca f (esp LAm)
try to avoid a scene → procura que no se monte una escena or el número
I hate scenes → detesto las escenas or los escándalos
to make a scene → hacer or montar una escena, montar un número
she had a scene with her husband → riñó con su marido

8. (= display of emotion)
there were emotional scenes as the hostages appeared → hubo escenas de emoción cuando aparecieron los rehenes
their argument ended in an ugly scene → su discusión acabó mal
there were unhappy scenes at the meeting → en la reunión pasaron cosas nada agradables

B. CPD scene change N (Theat) → cambio m de escena
scene painter N (= designer) → escenógrafo/a m/f; (= workman) → pintor(a) m/f (de paredes)
scene shift N → cambio m de escena
scene shifter N → tramoyista mf

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

scene

[ˈsiːn] n

(in theatre) → scène f
behind the scenes (lit) → dans les coulisses (fig) → dans les coulisses
to appear on the scene (lit) → faire son apparition, arriver (fig) → faire son apparition, arriver

(= location) [crime, accident] → lieux mpl, lieu m, endroit m
The police were soon on the scene → La police est vite arrivée sur les lieux.
the scene of the crime → les lieux du crime

(= sight, view) → spectacle m, vue f
It was an amazing scene → C'était un spectacle étonnant.

(= sphere, field) → scène f
the political scene → la scène politique
the English rock scene → la scène rock anglaise
to come on the scene → arriver, faire son apparition
to have a change of scene → changer d'air, changer de décor
it is not my scene → ce n'est pas mon truc

(= fuss) → scène f
to make a scene → faire une scène

to set the scene (= explain background to sb) → planter le décor
to set the scene for sth (= create conditions for) → planter le décor pour qch

scene

(= place, setting) → Schauplatz m; (of play, novel) → Ort m → der Handlung; the scene of the crime → der Tatort, der Schauplatz des Verbrechens; the scene of the battle was a small hill → die Schlacht fand auf einem kleinen Hügel statt; to set the scene (lit, fig) → den Rahmen geben; the scene is set in Padua → Ort der Handlung ist Padua, das Stück/der Roman etc spielt in Padua; a change of scene does you good → ein Tapetenwechsel m → tut dir gut; to come or appear on the scene → auftauchen, auf der Bildfläche erscheinen; to disappear from the scene → von der Bildfläche verschwinden; after the accident the police were first on the scene → nach dem Unfall war die Polizei als erste zur Stelle

(= description, incident) → Szene f

(Theat) → Szene f; Act II, scene i → Akt II, 1. Auftritt or Szene

(Theat: = scenery) → Bühnenbild nt, → Kulisse f; the stagehands move the scenes → die Bühnenarbeiter wechseln die Kulissen; behind the scenes (lit, fig) → hinter den Kulissen

(= sight) → Anblick m; (= landscape) → Landschaft f; (= tableau) → Szene f; scenes of Parisian life → Szenen aus dem Pariser Leben; favourite (Brit) or favorite (US) Glasgow scenes → die beliebtesten Ansichten von Glasgow; they left behind a scene of destruction → sie hinterließen eine Stätte der Verwüstung

(= fuss, argument) → Szene f; to make a scene → eine Szene machen

(inf: = area of activity) → Szene f; the London drug/pop etc scene → die Londoner Drogen-/Popszene etc; on the fashion scene → in der Modewelt; that’s not my scene → da steh ich nicht drauf (inf); to know the scene or what the scene is → wissen, was abgeht (sl); it’s a whole different scene here → hier sieht alles ganz anders aus, hier läuft alles ganz anders (inf); to make the scene → groß herauskommen (inf); he knew he’d made the scene when … → er wusste, dass er es geschafft hatte, als … (inf)

scene

scene change

n → Szenenwechsel m

scene painter

n → Bühnen- or Kulissenmaler(in) m(f)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

scene

[siːn] n

a. (gen) (Theatre, Cine, TV) → scena
indoor/outdoor scenes → interni/esterni mpl
the scene is set in a castle → la scena si svolge in un castello
to set the scene (fig) → creare l'atmosfera
behind the scenes (also) (fig) → dietro le quinte
the political scene in Italy → il quadro politico in Italia
the Punk scene → il mondo dei punk
scenes of violence → scene di violenza
to make a scene (fam) (fuss) → fare una scenata

b. (of crime, accident) → luogo, scena
at the scene of the crime → sul luogo or sulla scena del delitto
she needs a change of scene → ha bisogno di cambiare aria
to appear or come on the scene (also) (fig) → entrare in scena
it's not my scene (fam) → non è il mio genere

c. (sight) → scena, spettacolo; (view) → vista, spettacolo
a scene of utter destruction → una scena di totale distruzione

scene

(siːn) noun

1. the place where something real or imaginary happens. A murderer sometimes revisits the scene of his crime; The scene of this opera is laid/set in Switzerland.

2. an incident etc which is seen or remembered. He recalled scenes from his childhood.

3. a show of anger. I was very angry but I didn't want to make a scene.

4. a view of a landscape etc. The sheep grazing on the hillside made a peaceful scene.

5. one part or division of a play etc. The hero died in the first scene of the third act of the play.

6. the setting or background for a play etc. Scene-changing must be done quickly.

7. a particular area of activity. the academic/business scene.

ˈscenery noun

1. the painted background for a play etc on a stage. The scenery looked rather shabby.

2. the general appearance of a landscape etc. beautiful scenery.

ˈscenic adjective

1. of scenery, real or theatrical. clever scenic effects in the film.

2. having beautiful scenery. a scenic highway.

behind the scenes

out of sight of the audience or public.

come on the scene

to arrive. We were enjoying ourselves till she came on the scene.

scenery is never used in the plural.

scene

→ مَشْهَد dějiště scene Schauplatz σκηνή escenario tapahtumapaikka scène scena scena 場面 현장 scène scene scena cena сцена scen สถานที่เกิดเหตุ sahne quang cảnh 现场

scene

n. escena, escenario.

References in classic literature ?

His quick eye took in the whole scene with a single comprehending glance and stopped upon the figure of a woman standing facing a great lion across the carcass of a horse.

View in context

"I must have one pathetic scene in it," said Anne thoughtfully.

View in context

'Here is a scene in the vaults of the palace,' he began.

View in context

The stout lady with the wig (and the excellent heart) personated the sentimental Julia from an inveterately tragic point of view, and used her handkerchief distractedly in the first scene. The spinster relative felt Mrs.

View in context

Rushworth could seldom get anybody to rehearse with him: his complaint came before her as well as the rest; and so decided to her eye was her cousin Maria's avoidance of him, and so needlessly often the rehearsal of the first scene between her and Mr.

View in context

Little by little, probably, as time passed, this Easter scene was further enlarged, in part by additions from the closing incidents of the Savior's life.

View in context

I determined to go without a guide, for I was well acquainted with the path, and the presence of another would destroy the solitary grandeur of the scene.

View in context

Usually this picture seemed merely a country scene, but whenever Ozma looked at it and wished to know what any of her friends or acquaintances were doing, the magic of this wonderful picture was straightway disclosed.

View in context

Surely it will be allowed that none could be more proper than the present, where we are about to introduce a considerable character on the scene; no less, indeed, than the heroine of this heroic, historical, prosaic poem.

View in context

The immense building and the stage itself were still lit by gas; hydrogen was used to regulate and modify the lighting of a scene; and this was done by means of a special apparatus which, because of the multiplicity of its pipes, was known as the "organ." A box beside the prompter's box was reserved for the chief gas-man, who from there gave his orders to his assistants and saw that they were executed.

View in context

and beauty; now it is a scene of desolation and misery."

View in context

"But then, may not I be peculiarly constituted to write?" he queried, secretly exulting at the language he had used, his swift imagination throwing the whole scene and atmosphere upon a vast screen along with a thousand other scenes from his life - scenes that were rough and raw, gross and bestial.